"The Family That Sings Together..." is part of Chip Deffaa's cycle of plays about the Foy family. They toured the USA in vaudeville, becoming the best-known, best-loved family act of the era. This wholesome, rollicking family musical, written for a cast of 22 (12 female roles, 10 male roles), has been published by Drama Source: http://www.dramasource.com/itempage.php?script=FTST

The show may be performed by anywhere from 16 players (with some "doubling" of roles) to 25 players.

School groups, community theaters, church theater groups, stock and amateur producers of all kinds may license "The Family That Sings Together..." directly from the Drama Source Co. (1588 E. 361 N., St. Anthony, Idaho 83445; tel. 208-624-4726; www.dramasource.com.

The score includes such irresistible oldtime favorites as "I Love a Piano," "Mary," "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?," "Home Again Blues," "Will You Love Me in December as You Do in May?," and "I Want to Go Back to Michigan (Down on the Farm)," plus patriotic numbers ("Stars and Stripes Forever," "I Want to Hear a Yankee Doodle Tune"), and a rousing new original by Chip Deffaa in a gospel vein, "Faith!" The script is brimming with good cheer.

Our thanks to the talented theater pro's who've helped in the development of this project. The photos on this page were taken at the first reading of "The Family That Sings Together...," at the Roy Arias Studio, New York City.

Lisa Lambert, Seth Sikes, Melodie Wolford

Melodie Wolford, Tyler DuBoys

Among the participants: Lisa Lambert (co-creator of the Broadway hit, "The Drowsy Chaperone"); Seth Sikes (from the Off-Broadway musical "Fame"); Melodie Wolford (most recently seen Off-Broadway in "Summer and Smoke"); TV/film/stage personality Michael Townsend Wright (who's been part of the "Foys" project since its inception); Dea Julien (whose credits include New York Public Theatre productions); Eric Johnson (whose Broadway credits include, among others, such musicals as "Annie" and "Chess"); Lisa Carroll (who was Carol Channing's understudy in "Hello Dolly!" and starred in the national tour of "Applause"); rising Connecticut dancer Tyler DuBoys; and such key veterans of the ongoing "Foys" project as Jack Saleeby, Peter Charney, Rayna Hirt, and Alex Craven.

Jack Saleeby, Chip Deffaa, Peter Charney

This show offers two hours of good, clean family fun. It's suitable for all ages, all audiences. As the Foys barnstorm America, appearing everywhere from the Everett Theater of Everett, Washington, to the Thomaston Opera House of Thomaston, Connecticut, we see them growing closer. This musical offers plenty of entertainment for entertainment's sake, while reminding us of the importance of family.

"Having grown up near where the Foys used to live, and having heard stories about the family from childhood, it was natural for me to want to write about them," notes playwright/director Chip Deffaa. "And becoming friends with Ryan Foy, a grandson of one of the original famed 'Seven Little Foys,' has been a 'plus' for me in so many ways."

"This is one of the few musical comedies in which kids are the center of attention. Kids enjoy seeing a show in which kids are sort of the heroes. And kids sure love playing these roles. These are fun roles for kids to play, and every kid who plays gets a chance to put a little of himself into the part," says playwright Chip Deffaa.

Dea Julien, Rayna Hirt, Jack Saleeby, Peter Charney

"I'm sometimes asked if it's been hard writing roles for seven high-spirited kids," notes Deffaa. "I say, 'Nah, I've been working with some wonderful, high-spirited kids in developing this project over the last couple of years, and I write with the voices in mind of the terrific kids who've worked with me over the years, like Jack Saleeby, Peter Charney, Alex Craven, Dea Julien, Rayna Hirt. I appreciate all of their ideas and suggestions, too.'"